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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Manamadurai

From Sakthi (1997) · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Mano, Swarnalatha
Music director
S. P. Venkatesh
Movie name
Sakthi (1997)
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
24 Mar 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maanaamathurai ponnae
Manja kizhangu enna vilai
Thaanaa malarnthirukke
Thaamaraippoo enna vilai
Marainju kann adikkum
Maadhulanga enna vilai
Mayakkum mallaigaippoo
Mookkai thulaikkuthu
Muzham enna vilai
Sevaththa pullaiyae vaadi
Nee sevalai muzhungum kozhi
Maanaamathurai ponnu
Manja kizhangu tharathillai
Thaanaa malarnthirukkum
Thaamaraippoo tharathillai
Marainju kann adikkum
Maadhulanga tharathillai
Mayakkum malligaippoo
Vaikkirathu undu
Vikkirathukku illai
Sevaththa pullaiyae vaadi
Nee sevalai muzhungum kozhi
Vellarippazham pazhuththu
Vedichchirukku paathaiyilae
Koththum kili koththi thinnaa
Kuththamillai kelviyillai
Kiliyae aann kiliyae
Thallai nillu thooraththila
Akkapporu nadanthuruchchunnaa
Akkam pakkam yaarumillai
Konjum mozhi ketkkaiyilae
Nenjukkuzhi inikkuthadi
Oththa viral thodugaiyilae
Usuru ellaam thudikkuthadi
Sevaththa pullaiyae vaadi
Nee sevalai muzhungum kozhi
Kadhalaa unnai ninaichchu
Kattum thuni nanainjathae
Izhuththu moochchai vittaen
Eera thuni kaanjathae
Kuyilae unnai ninaichchaa
Koodha kaaththu kodhikkuthae
Ora kannil paaththupputtaa
Uchchi veyil kuliruthae
Kannukkulla
Minnal vettuthae
Nenjukkulla mazhai kottuthae
Koottukkulla vasathiyillai
Kozhiyum sevalum
Mallukkattuthaiyaa
Sevaththa pullaiyae vaadi
Nee sevalai muzhungum kozhi
Hae…maanaamathurai ponnae
Manja kizhangu enna vilai
Thaanaa malarnthirukke
Thaamaraippoo enna vilai
Marainju kann adikkum
Maadhulanga enna vilai
Mayakkum mallaigaippoo
Mookkai thulaikkuthu
Muzham enna vilai
Sevaththa pullaiyae vaadi
Nee sevalai muzhungum kozhi
Hoi….sevaththa pullaiyae vaadi
Nee sevalai muzhungum kozhi
Hey, Manamadurai girl!
What is the price of that fresh turmeric?
It has bloomed all on its own,
what is the price of that lotus flower?
Winking at me from hiding,
what is the price of that pomegranate?
The intoxicating jasmine flowers
fill the air with sweet scent;
what is the price for a strand?
Come to me, my fair girl!
You are a hen that swallows a rooster whole!
This Manamadurai girl
will not part with her fresh turmeric!
This naturally bloomed
lotus flower is not for sale!
Winking from hiding,
this pomegranate won't be given away!
The intoxicating jasmine flower
is meant to be worn in my hair,
not meant to be sold!
Come to me, my fair girl!
You are a hen that swallows a rooster whole!
The ripe melon has
burst open right on the path.
If a pecking parrot tastes it,
there is no blame and no questions asked.
O parrot, male parrot,
stand back and keep your distance!
If any trouble breaks out here,
there is no one around to help!
When I hear your sweet, teasing words,
my heart fills with sweetness!
When just one of your fingers touches me,
my whole soul trembles with longing!
Come to me, my fair girl!
You are a hen that swallows a rooster whole!
My love, thinking of you,
the clothes I wore were soaked in sweat!
I let out a long, deep breath,
and the wet cloth dried right up!
My cuckoo, when I think of you,
even the chill wind boils with heat!
If you glance from the corner of your eye,
even the scorching midday sun turns cool!
Inside our eyes,
lightning flashes!
Inside our hearts, rain pours down!
There is no room inside the coop,
yet the hen and the rooster
are wrestling away!
Come to me, my fair girl!
You are a hen that swallows a rooster whole!
Hey... Manamadurai girl!
What is the price of that fresh turmeric?
It has bloomed all on its own,
what is the price of that lotus flower?
Winking at me from hiding,
what is the price of that pomegranate?
The intoxicating jasmine flowers
fill the air with sweet scent;
what is the price for a strand?
Come to me, my fair girl!
You are a hen that swallows a rooster whole!
Hoy... come to me, my fair girl!
You are a hen that swallows a rooster whole!
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and rhythmic duet, composed by R. Anandh with lyrics by Vairamuthu, features a flirtatious banter between a young man and a spirited woman hailing from Manamadurai. The male lover uses various agricultural and floral metaphors—turmeric, lotus flowers, pomegranates, and jasmine—to playfully negotiate for her affection and beauty. The heroine cleverly counters his advances, stating that her beauty and charms are reserved solely for love and marriage, not for mere bartering or flirtation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Maanaamathurai ponnae / Manja kizhangu enna vilai”

The second consonant 'na' rhymes across adjacent lines ('Maanaamathurai' and 'Manja'), establishing classical Tamil rhythmic cadence.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Manja kizhangu enna vilai / Thaamaraippoo enna vilai”

Body parts and attributes are metaphorically mapped to nature and produce—turmeric for complexions, lotus for radiant face, and pomegranate for teeth/lips.

Hyperbole (Uruvagamm / Adukku)

“Ora kannil paaththupputtaa / Uchchi veyil kuliruthae”

Exaggerated imagery used to express intense romantic yearning, where a touch makes the soul tremble and love turns cold winds hot and harsh sun cool.

Monaai (Initial letter alliteration)

“Mayakkum mallaigaippoo / Mookkai thulaikkuthu / Muzham enna vilai”

Alliteration of the initial letter 'M' across line beginnings ('Mayakkum', 'Mookkai', 'Muzham').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Maanaamathurai Ponnae' is one of the most famous rural folk-pop chartbusters composed by R. Anandh (of the duo Vidyasagar-Anandh fame). Sung vibrantly by Mano and Swarnalatha, the song remains iconic for its energetic rhythm and clever rural folk metaphors penned by Vairamuthu.

Keep listening

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From the same album

More songs from Sakthi (1997)

View album
Yaana Yaana1997
Sakthi (1997)Humorous
Sakthi Sakthi1997
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Sakthi (1997)Playful
Aaraaro Enbathu1997
Sakthi (1997)Melancholic

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